Travel in Asia: You must see these highlights in Sri Lanka

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There are few countries in the world where traveling by train is as emotional an experience as in Sri Lanka. While trains in Europe are becoming more efficient and losing their appeal, in Sri Lanka you feel like you have gone back to the early years of train travel. The railway was built by the British in the 19th century to transport tea from the mountains to the port in the capital Colombo; most of the railway material comes from that time. The sound is magnificent: Diesel locomotives rattle, squeak and gasp as they move across the landscape with Indian wagons. The most beautiful route runs from the city of Kandy to the village of Ella, located in the mountains in the center of the island. We pass by tea fields climbing the mountain slopes like vines.

My advice is: Many tea producers offer tours of their production facilities. Very interesting!

Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims live in Sri Lanka. No matter how different the religions are, they all have one thing in common: For them, Adam’s Peak is a sacred place. For Buddhists, the depression at the top represents the footprints of Buddha, for Hindus, Vishnu, for Christians, the footprints of the Apostle Thomas, and according to Islamic belief, the footprint that Adam touched here when he was expelled from heaven. Adam’s Peak is therefore one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in South Asia. Hundreds of believers climb the mountain every day during the pilgrimage season, which runs from December to May.

The sunrise at the 2200 meter high summit is particularly impressive (the start time of the climb in the village at the foot of Adam Hill is around 02:00 at night). The route to the summit does not require any technical mountaineering requirements. However, there are approximately 5,500 steps to climb, which is tough on the knees and tendons (take hiking poles with you!). The road is also lined with tea rooms where you can buy refreshing drinks.

My advice is: The sunset at the top, where there are far fewer people outside, is also worth watching. Since the road is fully illuminated, landing in the dark is not a problem.

Sri Lanka’s most populous religion is Buddhism, whose faith is celebrated with colorful rites. Visitors are welcome at the temples and can participate in ceremonies (appropriate dress and a reserved demeanor are important). Things get especially festive during the full moon, when the entire country celebrates a holiday every month. Full moon nights are important days for Buddhists; Many people go to temples and offer incense sticks and lotus flowers.

Parades called peraheras are held frequently these days, during which decorated elephants, dance troupes and traditional musical groups parade through the streets. The most important Peraheras take place in February in the capital Colombo and in July and August in the city of Kandy.

My advice is: Anyone interested in Buddhism and its traditions should visit the city of Anuradhapura. There, believers gather every evening under the sacred Bodhi tree (a branch of the Bodhi tree in India), chant mantras and meditate. Very impressive!

The city of Anuradhapura in the northern plains was the capital of the country for almost 1,400 years. From 437 BC to 1017 AD, kings ruled the teardrop-shaped island from here. The city is therefore important for the national understanding of Sri Lankan residents. Those that have survived the turmoil of time are the stupas, huge hemispheres that emerge as white as mountains from the green forest.

Religious complexes are still respected today, so the “Holy City”, as the historical site is called, has not been turned into a museum. It’s especially nice to rent a bike (most guesthouses and hotels offer bikes for rent) and cycle from stupa to stupa, treating yourself to rice and curry in between, and watching the sunset with a religious ceremony in the evening.

My advice is: You have to take off your shoes in temples. However, stones can get very hot in the sun. Therefore, be sure to take a pair of socks with you.

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Perhaps the most mystical place in Sri Lanka is Sigiriya, the table mountain rising from the forest. There are ruins of a castle built on the plateau during the struggle for the throne between two family members in the 5th century. The $36 entrance fee is only worth it for true history buffs. The view of Lion Mountain (so named because a huge lion once adorned the entrance) from the neighboring hill Pidurangala (entrance fee is only 3 francs) is already more impressive. While many tourists climb the mini mountain at sunrise, sunset offers a better view in the evening as less humidity obscures the mountain.

My advice is: The small village of Sigiriya offers many homestays with accommodation options for families. You can easily spend a few days in this cool place and relax with the slow rhythm of life. Various excursions can be made from here, including Minneriya National Park, where elephants are found, and the rock temples of Dambulla city.

About 5,000 wild elephants live in Sri Lanka; a relatively high number considering the island is only 1.5 times larger than Switzerland. Pachyderms live not only in national parks but also in other protected areas, including villages and farmland. Approximately 5,000 kilometers of electric fencing has been installed to protect agriculture and people. But conflicts between humans and animals occur again and again. Therefore, tourists should not ride bicycles at night in Sigiriya; There may be a wild elephant on the road. Encountering one of these majestic animals outside the national park is, of course, a matter of luck (and therefore even more exciting).

If you definitely want to see Sri Lankan elephants, you should visit the national park. Your chances are especially high in Yala National Park in the south, Minneriya National Park in the center and Wilpattu National Park in the northwest, which are not visited much by tourists.

Besides art, culture and wildlife, the main attractions for tourists to Sri Lanka are the beaches in the west and south. The infrastructure is correspondingly good, with many accommodation options, restaurants and activities on land and in the water. The most beautiful (and most popular) beach destinations are Mirissa Beach in the south, the area around the city of Galle (e.g. Unawatuna Beach) in the west, and Tangalle Beach in the south. If you want to escape the classic bucket list spots, you can also head east: the beaches around the city of Trincomalee are hardly visited by foreign tourists and still offer everything you need for a beach holiday.

My advice is: Up to 27 species of whales and dolphins live in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, including the largest, the blue whale. The chances of seeing the giant of the seas are especially high here. Most tours start in Mirissa.

In Western medicine, diseases are often treated purely symptomatically, unlike alternative healing methods that aim to cure the causes; the same situation, originating from B.C. This also applies to Ayurveda, which dates back to India in the 2nd millennium BC. Ayurveda translates to something like “wisdom of life” and includes not only the treatment of diseases, but also offers a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle.

Meanwhile, Indian healing teachings in the Western world have waned towards a trend towards wellness, where the original elements of the teachings can now hardly be found – in Sri Lanka, which has made a name for itself as an Ayurvedic destination, a “middle way”. ” Taken instead »: Treatments are adapted to Western tourists, but still take a holistic approach. Many resorts offer two-week stays, where you can enjoy daily massage treatments and follow a personalized diet. Afterwards, you feel “reborn”.

My advice is: In low season (our summer) prices at Ayurvedic resorts are especially affordable.

Until the end of the civil war in 2009, the north of Sri Lanka was closed to tourists. And even after 15 years, the infrastructure is not as developed as in the south. Accordingly, very few tourists come here. In other words, the north of Sri Lanka is a travel destination for individualists who want to travel off the beaten path. While Sinhalese culture dominates in the south, Tamils, Hinduism and South Indian cuisine dominate in the north. The city of Jaffna is an ideal base camp from which to explore the Jaffna Peninsula with its small villages, beautiful beaches and grand temples.

My advice is: Jaffna can be reached by train from the capital Colombo – a long journey full of beautiful train moments – and not just for “rail buffs”.

information

Getting there: How do I get to Sri Lanka?

Edelweiss Air flies direct from Zurich to Sri Lanka in under 10 hours. We return with a triangle flight, taking a break in the Maldives.

Entry: What are the entry formalities?

Login is not complicated. A visa is not required for holidays up to 30 days. However, before entering the country, you must apply for a digital entry permit (Electronic Travel Authority), which is easy to fill out and quickly approved. Cost is $50 (as of March 2024). If you have not completed this form online in advance, you will need to apply for a “Visa on Arrival” at the Colombo airport, which requires some patience. An “Arrival Card” must also be completed. This can also be done electronically in advance.

Source : Blick

Malan

I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.